The Bletchley Riddle

 

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin is a juvenile novel that adults would also enjoy.  Lizzie and her brother Jakob live in England at the start of World War II.  Lizzie is supposed to be go to America to be with her grandmother.  She figures out how to remain near her brother Jakob so she can also try to find out what happened to their mother.  This book has adventure and mystery rolled together to give readers another perspective on World War II that I haven't seen in many novels.  It would make a decent read aloud to older elementary or middle school students.

pictures

Here are a few pictures from my trip to Denmark.

the changing of the guard at the king's palace in Copenhagen

view of Kolding from the roof of Koldinghus

the sea and the bridge that connects Funen (Fyn) and Zealand islands

view outside my hotel window in Nyborg

Nyborg Castle-I only saw the outside of the castle because they are doing renovations.

part of the Botanic Gardens in Copenhagen

The Art of Talking with Children

 

If you work with children or have children or grandchildren, The Art of Talking with Children is worth reading.  Rebecca Rolland has done a great job at giving suggestions on how you can have conversations with children that will make them think and grow.  She addresses children from preschool all the way through adolescence.  

spring in Texas

I was in Texas last weekend and took the opportunity to go the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.  It was beautiful and relaxing.  If you get to Austin in the spring, I recommend it.

 

                 a beautiful tree blossom

The only armadillo I saw.     

Golden Groundsel

   

I'm Going to Build a Snowman

 

If you are looking for a new book to add to your winter collection for reading to children, I'm Going to Build a Snowman by Jashar Awan, is worth looking for.  A young boy wakes up one morning excited to go outside and build the perfect snowman.  He goes outside with his grand ideas of what the snowman will look like.  When he is done, it isn't perfect.  But it is just right.  It has brief text and great pictures that engage listeners of a variety of ages.

different shapes

In December and January I did a fair amount of sewing.  My niece made a hexagon pot holder, which inspired me to do the same.  I figured I would try a circle, too, and was pleased with the one in the picture.